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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
No archaeological evidence of violence between Buddhism and Hinduism in the past
India has been the progenitor of several faiths and religions. From time to time, several philosophers were born who contributed to the various schools of thought prevalent in this nation. These philosophies were also spread among the public which were gradually adopted into the ecosystem of social thought. Prominent among these philosophers were Gautam Buddha, Mahavir, Swami Charvak etc. It is also important to note here that the eternal ideology of India also gave equal opportunity to all religions to flourish. There was ideological difference of new religions from the age-old Vedic tradition, but it never gave rise to enmity and violence. Among these above sects, one sect which spread not only in India but the whole world like others was Buddhism Around 2600 years ago, Siddhartha Gautam, a Kshatriya, adopted the path of non-violence with an aim of eradicating the wrongdoings in the society. This led to the emergence of Buddhism. The philosophy of Buddhism primarily focused on the eradication of elaborate rituals and posed a contradiction against the virtues in the Vedic Hindu tradition, but this never gave rise to enmity between Hindus and Buddhists. Modern day history books and texts speak about the presence of enmity and violence between these groups which seems to be untrue on archeological grounds. Many historians have also written, based on ancient texts, that Hindu kings demolished Buddhist stupas. But the question is, is there any archeological evidence for this? The Shunga dynasty is considered to be the biggest enemy of the Buddhists and ruled around 2200 years Shunga king who ruled the large territory of India was a follower of the Vedic tradition, but did the Shungas break the Buddhist stupa? The answer is no, because the world famous Sanchi Stupa, which was built in the Maurya period, is safe till now only because stone casing was done on the entire stupa in the Shunga period. The vedika and pradaksinapath of stone were also built during the Sunga period. Not only this, the Torana gate was also built in Sanchiduring the time of the Satavahana kings, who were also followers of the Vedic tradition. These Torana gates are 4 in number and include panels of the life of Buddha and several anecdotes related to Buddhism. If these followers of the Vedic Hindu tradition were against Buddhism or there was any mutual enmity in the society, the protection of stupas and additional architectural features would not have been possible. Moreover, Buddhist stupas and Hindu temples have been built together in Sanchi. The main stupa is near Temple No. 17 which is one of the earliest examples of Hindu Temple and during the Gupta period, 4 statues of Buddha was built on the 4 Torana gates at Sanchi. This archeological evidence is a proof of the fact that the eternal tradition did not have any violent differences between the Hindu and Buddhist sects. In Ujjain, which is one of the oldest cities in India, a huge stupa was built around 2300 years ago by the Mauryan dynasty. Ujjain is also a big centre of Shaivism. Surprisingly, the 2300-year-old stupa is still completely preserved. Thus, if the story of breaking the stupas by Hindus in the history books is correct, then how is the huge stupa of Ujjain, which is known as Vaishya Tekri, safe? Although, due to decline in Buddhist population in the region, the rituals associated with the stupa discontinued over time and it became a mound with no maintenance. However, evidence of destruction is still not present in this monument. The biggest centre of Buddhism is Bodh Gaya, where construction work was done by Ashoka. The 'anti-Buddhist' Shungas took steps of renovation at this site. The vedikas built during the Gupta period is available for display at the Site Museum. In the later period a grand temple was built during the Gupta Dynasty who were followers of the Vedic tradition. As far as the history of Shashank, ruler of Gaud, is concerned about breaking the Bodhi tree, there are no material evidence for this event and is a fantasy. No archeological evidence is there for this incident. In addition to the above-mentioned descriptions, there are many archeological evidences that prove unfounded fanciful things like Hindu-Buddhist violence, destruction of each other's holy sites. Hinduism and Buddhism are two parts of the eternal tradition, there is definitely an ideological difference between them but there was no place for violence and there is no place for violence. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Rich Past, Missed Present!
Aditi Maheshwari is a freelance writer, and has been a student of Economics, Advertising, Marketing, Psychology and also of the Institute Of Company Secretaries Of India. She is a contributor to several magazines. LESS ... MORE India is a land where time stands still in stone — where ancient temples, royal palaces, and timeless ruins whisper stories of a bygone era. With 3,697 monuments and archaeological sites officially classified as Monuments of National Importance (MNIs) under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the country is a treasure trove of history waiting to be experienced. Yet, in the grand theatre of global tourism, India's cultural legacy continues to be underplayed. From the resplendent Taj Mahal to the intricacies of Sanchi Stupa, India's architectural marvels are scattered across its length and breadth. While these sites have seen growing interest among domestic travellers, the international audience remains relatively sparse. In 2023, centrally protected ticketed monuments welcomed 48 million domestic tourists — a testament to homegrown heritage enthusiasm. Yet foreign tourist numbers tell a less enthusiastic story: only 9.24 million international tourists visited India in 2023. While that reflects a strong rebound from 6.44 million in 2022 — a 43.5% increase — it pales in comparison to global leaders. France and Spain, for instance, each welcomed over 80 million international visitors in 2023 alone (UNWTO, 2024). By mid-2024, India had already received 4.77 million foreign tourists, signalling further momentum. However, this is not nearly enough given India's potential. The Taj Mahal continues to dominate as India's most visited monument, drawing over 6 million domestic visitors in 2024. Ironically, foreign visitor numbers to this world wonder have dropped significantly — to just 300,000 in 2023. This points to an urgent need for strategic international marketing, modernized amenities, and smoother access for overseas travellers. Meanwhile, the Qutub Minar is catching foreign eyeballs and is now the second most-visited monument among international tourists in 2023–2024. But many other heritage gems — from the rock-cut marvels of Ellora to the mystic ruins of Hampi — remain largely unexplored on the global circuit. Though the ASI continues to safeguard MNIs and provide basic amenities like signage, pathways, and ramps for the differently-abled, several challenges remain. Many monuments are plagued by crumbling infrastructure, encroachments, lack of sanitation facilities, and inadequate interpretation materials. Recognizing the issue, the government is in the process of delisting 18 centrally protected monuments that no longer hold national relevance, with a view to concentrate efforts on more significant sites. India's tourism sector contributes about 4.6% to the GDP (Ministry of Tourism, GoI, 2024). This is modest compared to nations like Thailand (12.5%) or Spain (14.6%), where tourism is central to economic planning. Aggressive policy decisions like visa-free travel, airport-to-hotel shuttle services, and digital-first experiences have played a key role in drawing global tourists to those countries. If India is to turn its rich past into a flourishing present, the following pillars must be prioritized: Infrastructure Modernization: Clean restrooms, informative displays, multilingual audio guides, and shaded rest zones are basic expectations today. UNESCO-styled immersive experiences could also help. Smart Digitization: Augmented reality tours, virtual ticketing, global SEO campaigns, and social media storytelling can bring India's heritage to a much larger audience. Local Integration: Empowering communities around heritage sites with training, home-stays, and tourism-linked micro-enterprises can create jobs while preserving authenticity. Policy Innovation: Fast-tracked visas, travel corridors with key nations, off-season discounts, and heritage festivals tailored for international guests can act as catalysts. Sustainability Focus: Limiting footfall in vulnerable monuments, adopting green energy, and mandating eco-conscious tourism operators can protect India's heritage from over-tourism and neglect. Cultural Sensitivity: Training guides and staff on etiquette, global cultural nuances, and inclusive communication can make India more tourist-friendly in subtle but powerful ways. India's monuments aren't just relics of the past — they're living invitations to the world. With thoughtful action, the subcontinent can reposition itself as a heritage haven that rivals the best in the world. What we need is not just footfall, but meaningful footsteps — the kind that honour history while building the future. India's heritage doesn't suffer from lack of glory — it suffers from lack of global imagination. The problem isn't that we don't have stories to tell, but that we've failed to tell them loud enough, smart enough, and far enough. In a world where content drives curiosity and convenience dictates travel choices, our monuments can no longer rely on mystique alone. If we want the world to arrive, we must first arrive at a realization ourselves — that preserving the past is not enough. We must package it, position it, and proudly present it as an irreplaceable part of the global cultural conversation. Until then, we risk being caretakers of forgotten wonders, watching history fade under our watch. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
